{{Quote|I'm a Mandalorian. Weapons are part of my religion!|[[Din Djarin]]|The Mandalorian Chapter 2}}

{{Quote|I'm a Mandalorian. Weapons are part of my religion!|[[Din Djarin]]|The Mandalorian Chapter 2}}

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A '''religion''' described an organized belief system held by many beings in [[the galaxy]]. Some religions were labeled as '''cults'''.

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A '''religion''', sometimes referred to as a '''cult''', described an organized belief system held by many beings in [[the galaxy]].

==Description==

==Description==

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Around the same time, more than 5000 years before the [[Galactic Civil War]], the holy city of [[NiJedha]] was built on the [[moon]] of [[Jedha]].<ref name="Atlas">''[[Star Wars: Galactic Atlas]]''</ref> The city hosted the [[Temple of the Kyber]] and came to be a site of pilgrimage for a plethora of Force religions. The Jedi Order eventually established itself on Jedha, as well, taking up in the Temple of the Kyber.<ref name="R1Novel" /> Despite its religious pluralism, the moon became so associated with the Jedi that it was proposed by historians as a possible location for the [[First Jedi Temple|first Jedi temple]].<ref name="TLJVD" />

Around the same time, more than 5000 years before the [[Galactic Civil War]], the holy city of [[NiJedha]] was built on the [[moon]] of [[Jedha]].<ref name="Atlas">''[[Star Wars: Galactic Atlas]]''</ref> The city hosted the [[Temple of the Kyber]] and came to be a site of pilgrimage for a plethora of Force religions. The Jedi Order eventually established itself on Jedha, as well, taking up in the Temple of the Kyber.<ref name="R1Novel" /> Despite its religious pluralism, the moon became so associated with the Jedi that it was proposed by historians as a possible location for the [[First Jedi Temple|first Jedi temple]].<ref name="TLJVD" />

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===Ageof the Republic===

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===RepublicEra===

{{Quote|For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire.|Obi-Wan Kenobi|Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope}}

{{Quote|For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire.|Obi-Wan Kenobi|Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope}}

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With the Sith seemingly defeated, the Jedi established their [[Jedi Temple|main temple]] on the galactic capital of [[Coruscant]], capping off an ancient [[Sith shrine]], which had also been the site of worship for a number of religious cults throughout the centuries.<ref name="Tarkin">[[Tarkin (novel)|''Tarkin'']]</ref> A number of religions prospered during the [[Ageof the Republic]]. Though the Sith were gone, the dark side had its adherents in the form of the [[Sorcerers of Tund]] and the [[Yacombe]]. Many of their relics came to rest in the [[Bogan Collection]] in the [[Jedi Archives]] on Coruscant.<ref name="Jedi Lost"/>

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With the Sith seemingly defeated, the Jedi established their [[Jedi Temple|main temple]] on the galactic capital of [[Coruscant]], capping off an ancient [[Sith shrine]], which had also been the site of worship for a number of religious cults throughout the centuries.<ref name="Tarkin">[[Tarkin (novel)|''Tarkin'']]</ref> A number of religions prospered during the [[RepublicEra]]. Though the Sith were gone, the dark side had its adherents in the form of the [[Sorcerers of Tund]] and the [[Yacombe]]. Many of their relics came to rest in the [[Bogan Collection]] in the [[Jedi Archives]] on Coruscant.<ref name="Jedi Lost"/>

The [[Presagersof Hakotei]]—adarksidecultthatwasobsessed with sacrificing living beings in order to receive [[Forcevision|visions]] of the future—were also active on the [[OuterRim Territories|Outer Rim]] planetof [[Asusto]],which was stronginthedark side of the Force. The Jedi hadlongthoughtthePresagersextinct,butsomeofthewitchessurvived, and traded Sith artifacts on the [[blackmarket]]inthehopesofluringapowerful Jedi to them. They succeeded in roping in a young [[Dooku]], aswellas [[JediMaster]] [[LeneKostana]]and her [[Padawan]][[Sifo-Dyas]]. Dooku ultimately wiped out the coven, markinghisfirstsignificantstep down the dark path.<ref name="JediLost"/>

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Sidious, with his second apprentice [[DarthTyranus]],<refname="EpisodeII">[[StarWars:EpisodeIIAttack of the Clones|''Star Wars'' Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']]</ref>engineered the [[CloneWars]] to draw the Jedi into a [[JediPurge|trap]]. Attheendofthewar,despite the loss of Tyranus, he declared himself [[Galactic Emperor|emperor]] and reformed the Republicintothe[[GalacticEmpire]].Hethenusedhisnewapprentice,[[DarthVader]], and the [[clone trooper]]s to [[Order 66|extinguish]] the Jedi Order.<ref name="Episode III" /> The[[Nightsisters]]of[[Dathomir]]were also driven to near extinction by Sidious as a result of the war,<refname="Massacre">{{TCW|Massacre}}</ref> though a [[Merrin|few]][[Shelish|individuals]],<refname="FallenOrder">''[[StarWarsJedi: Fallen Order]]''</ref><ref name="Uprising">''[[StarWars: Uprising]]''</ref>andatleast[[NardithiNightsisters|one clan]] survived the purge.<ref name="Ghosts">''[[Ghostsof Dathomir]]''</ref>

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In [[32BBY]] thehiddenSithrevealedthemselvesin the [[Invasion of Naboo]] when [[DarthMaul]] appeared to [[Qui-GonJinn]]. ThoughMaulwasdefeatedandthoughtdead, the JediknewtheretobeatleastonemoreSithLordwaitingin the shadows.<ref name="Episode I" /> ThisSithLordwas,unbeknownst to them, the newlyelected [[SupremeChancellor]] oftheRepublic, [[SheevPalpatine]],knownsecretlyasDarthSidious.<ref name="Episode III" />

Sidious, with his second apprentice [[Darth Tyranus]],<ref name="Episode II">[[Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones|''Star Wars'' Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']]</ref> engineered the [[Clone Wars]] to draw the Jedi into a [[Jedi Purge|trap]]. At the end of the war, despite the loss of Tyranus, he declared himself [[Galactic Emperor|emperor]] and reformed the Republic into the [[Galactic Empire]]. He then used his new apprentice, [[Darth Vader]], and the [[clone trooper]]s to [[Order 66|extinguish]] the Jedi Order.<ref name="Episode III" /> The [[Nightsisters]] of [[Dathomir]] were also driven to near extinction by Sidious as a result of the war,<ref name="Massacre">{{TCW|Massacre}}</ref> though a [[Merrin|few]] [[Shelish|individuals]],<ref name="Fallen Order">''[[Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order]]''</ref><ref name="Uprising">''[[Star Wars: Uprising]]''</ref> and at least [[Nardithi Nightsisters|one clan]] survived the purge.<ref name="Ghosts">''[[Ghosts of Dathomir]]''</ref>

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The [[Way of the Mandalore]], a [[Mandalorian]] religious sect, was implied to have been around at the end of the Clone Wars. Members of [[Death Watch]] raised the young [[foundling]], [[Din Djarin]] in "the Way" after saving him from the [[Separatist Droid Army]].<ref name="Chapter 8" />

The [[Way of the Mandalore]], a [[Mandalorian]] religious sect, was implied to have been around at the end of the Clone Wars. Members of [[Death Watch]] raised the young [[foundling]], [[Din Djarin]] in "the Way" after saving him from the [[Separatist Droid Army]].<ref name="Chapter 8" />

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===Ageof the Empire===

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===ImperialEra===

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[[File:Jedha SW38.png|thumb|Jedha was ravaged by the Death Star.]]

The Emperor and Darth Vader continued their purge of the Jedi after the formation of the Galactic Empire, going so far as to form the [[Inquisitorius]] to aid in hunting down any survivors.<ref name="Vader 6">''[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 6]]''</ref> Sidious also ordered [[Project Harvester]] to gather up the [[Force-sensitive]] children of the galaxy in the hopes of training them as [[dark side]] adherents to his will.<ref name="Harvester">''[[Servants of the Empire: Rebel in the Ranks]]''</ref> Even so, some Jedi survived the purge and went on to join other religions. For instance, [[Eeth Koth]], though he was later murdered by Vader, became a [[priest]] in the [[Church of the Ganthic Enlightenment]].<ref name="Vader 19">''[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 19]]''</ref> The Jedi teachings also lived on in the form of the [[Church of the Force]]: a underground group of [[Force]]-worshipers that revered the Jedi Order and fought to see them restored to the galaxy in the wake of the Emperor's purge.<ref name="Episode VII">[[Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens|''Star Wars'' Episode VII ''The Force Awakens'']]</ref>

The Emperor and Darth Vader continued their purge of the Jedi after the formation of the Galactic Empire, going so far as to form the [[Inquisitorius]] to aid in hunting down any survivors.<ref name="Vader 6">''[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 6]]''</ref> Sidious also ordered [[Project Harvester]] to gather up the [[Force-sensitive]] children of the galaxy in the hopes of training them as [[dark side]] adherents to his will.<ref name="Harvester">''[[Servants of the Empire: Rebel in the Ranks]]''</ref> Even so, some Jedi survived the purge and went on to join other religions. For instance, [[Eeth Koth]], though he was later murdered by Vader, became a [[priest]] in the [[Church of the Ganthic Enlightenment]].<ref name="Vader 19">''[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 19]]''</ref> The Jedi teachings also lived on in the form of the [[Church of the Force]]: a underground group of [[Force]]-worshipers that revered the Jedi Order and fought to see them restored to the galaxy in the wake of the Emperor's purge.<ref name="Episode VII">[[Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens|''Star Wars'' Episode VII ''The Force Awakens'']]</ref>

However, despite the persecution of the Jedi Order, a number of religions existed and prospered under the Empire. The cult of the [[Central Isopter]] was among the more notable. The cult consisted of [[Force-sensitive]] members who received visions of great [[death]] and went to those sites to revel in the carnage.<ref name="Star Wars 41" /> They were present at arguably one of the greatest religious catastrophes in galactic history when the holy city on [[Jedha]] was destroyed by the [[Death Star]].<ref name="Rogue One">''[[Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]]''</ref> The blast eradicated centuries of religious history and destroyed a number of sacred sites.<ref name="R1Novel" />

However, despite the persecution of the Jedi Order, a number of religions existed and prospered under the Empire. The cult of the [[Central Isopter]] was among the more notable. The cult consisted of [[Force-sensitive]] members who received visions of great [[death]] and went to those sites to revel in the carnage.<ref name="Star Wars 41" /> They were present at arguably one of the greatest religious catastrophes in galactic history when the holy city on [[Jedha]] was destroyed by the [[Death Star]].<ref name="Rogue One">''[[Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]]''</ref> The blast eradicated centuries of religious history and destroyed a number of sacred sites.<ref name="R1Novel" />

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During the [[early rebellion against the Galactic Empire]], evidence of the worship of the [[Mortis]] [[Force wielder|gods]] was uncovered at the [[Lothal Jedi Temple]]. Darth Sidious was aware of the Mortis deities, suggesting that both the Jedi and the Sith were at one time aware of and potentially worshiped them.<ref name="Wolves and a Door">{{Rebels|Wolves and a Door}}</ref> However, the temple was destroyed by Padawan [[Ezra Bridger]] after Sidious failed to infiltrate the [[world between worlds]].<ref name="A World Between Worlds">{{Rebels|A World Between Worlds}}</ref>

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During the [[Galactic Civil War]], both [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] and [[Yoda]] trained a young [[Luke Skywalker]] in the ways of the Jedi.<ref name="Episode IV">[[Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope|''Star Wars'' Episode IV ''A New Hope'']]</ref><ref name="Episode V">[[Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back|''Star Wars'' Episode V ''The Empire Strikes Back'']]</ref> Though Luke fought in the war, he also scoured the galaxy to recover lost Jedi lore. Much of the surviving records of the Jedi, which weren't obtained or destroyed by the Empire, were hoarded by criminals such as the [[Hutt]] [[crime lord]] [[Grakkus Jahibakti Tingi]].<ref name="Star Wars 9">''[[Star Wars 9]]''</ref> He also discovered a [[Jocasta Nu's school|school]] left behind by Jedi Master [[Jocasta Nu]], which contained countless [[Jedi holocron]]s.<ref name="Darth Vader 10">''[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 10]]''</ref> After completing his training, Luke went on to avenge the Jedi Order by redeeming his father, Anakin Skywalker, who destroyed the Sith by killing Darth Sidious at the [[Battle of Endor]].<ref name="Episode VI">[[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'' Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']]</ref>

History

Ancient past

Darth Bane carried on the Sith religion after it was thought to be eradicated by the Jedi.

At some point in the ancient past, the Prime Jedi created the Jedi Order on Ahch-To.[15] The sacred Jedi texts, written at the dawn of the Jedi Order, contained some of the earliest religious texts to reference the Force. The Rammahgon in particular contained a number of conflicting origin stories for both the universe and the Force.[9] Soon, the Jedi Order took to the stars, settling on Ossus and Tython among other worlds.[15] At some unknown point, Ahch-To was abandoned by the Jedi and left in the hands of the Caretakers.[16]

The ancient Jedi also fought a religious civil war with a splinter group, the Ordu Aspectu, who disagreed with the orthodox members of the Order over the violence they perceived was perpetrated by the Jedi. Galactic historians differ on what ultimately caused the conflict between the two sects of the Jedi Order, but, in the end, the rogue Jedi Rur and his followers were wiped out by the orthodox Jedi.[11]

Around the same time, more than 5000 years before the Galactic Civil War, the holy city of NiJedha was built on the moon of Jedha.[20] The city hosted the Temple of the Kyber and came to be a site of pilgrimage for a plethora of Force religions. The Jedi Order eventually established itself on Jedha, as well, taking up in the Temple of the Kyber.[2] Despite its religious pluralism, the moon became so associated with the Jedi that it was proposed by historians as a possible location for the first Jedi temple.[15]

Republic Era

"For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire."

The Presagers of Hakotei—a dark side cult that was obsessed with sacrificing living beings in order to receive visions of the future—were also active on the Outer Rim planet of Asusto, which was strong in the dark side of the Force. The Jedi had long thought the Presagers extinct, but some of the witches survived, and traded Sith artifacts on the black market in the hopes of luring a powerful Jedi to them. They succeeded in roping in a young Dooku, as well as Jedi MasterLene Kostana and her PadawanSifo-Dyas. Dooku ultimately wiped out the coven, marking his first significant step down the dark path.[4]

Imperial Era

Jedha was ravaged by the Death Star.

The Emperor and Darth Vader continued their purge of the Jedi after the formation of the Galactic Empire, going so far as to form the Inquisitorius to aid in hunting down any survivors.[27] Sidious also ordered Project Harvester to gather up the Force-sensitive children of the galaxy in the hopes of training them as dark side adherents to his will.[28] Even so, some Jedi survived the purge and went on to join other religions. For instance, Eeth Koth, though he was later murdered by Vader, became a priest in the Church of the Ganthic Enlightenment.[29] The Jedi teachings also lived on in the form of the Church of the Force: a underground group of Force-worshipers that revered the Jedi Order and fought to see them restored to the galaxy in the wake of the Emperor's purge.[30]

However, despite the persecution of the Jedi Order, a number of religions existed and prospered under the Empire. The cult of the Central Isopter was among the more notable. The cult consisted of Force-sensitive members who received visions of great death and went to those sites to revel in the carnage.[5] They were present at arguably one of the greatest religious catastrophes in galactic history when the holy city on Jedha was destroyed by the Death Star.[31] The blast eradicated centuries of religious history and destroyed a number of sacred sites.[2]